Sybil Smith Wood ( 1759-1852)

Marian and Agnes Wilder were the daughters of

the son of Hadassah Thompson,

the daughter of Mary "Polly" Wood,

the daughter of Sibel Smith

Sybil Smith was born October 2, 1759 at Needham, Ma. to Robert Smith and his wife, Rachal Smith Smith.

Died 1852 at Chesterville ME.

Sibel Smith was the daughter of Captain Robert Smith, and Rachal (sic) Smith (both were named Smith but no relation to each other before marriage). Sibel’s father’s family had immigrated from Ireland in the 1720’s to Needham, her mother’s family was originally from New Hampshire and Massachusetts. She was a descendant of Puritan captain John Johnson, a founder of Roxbury, near Boston, and a close friend of Puritan leader John Winthrop. Sibel was the oldest of five children, born at Needham. Her sister Persis, born in 1761 appears to be who Hadassah Thompson’s sister was namesake of. Her nephew (possibly her brother) Joel Smith, died as a soldier during the War of 1812. Sibel married Silas Wood August 12, 1784 in Needham, MA. Silas and Sibel lived for a month in Bolton, then moved to Norridgewock. Her son Abel was born Dec. 21, 1784 in Norridgewock. Her daughter Mary or Polly, was born April 4, 1786 in Norridgewock.. In looking at Sibel’s will, two things catch my eye. One is that Francis L. Wilder is mentioned—he inherited a writing desk at about age 22, and there is a mention of a grandson named Llewellyn. Over the years, the question of where grandpa Wilder got his middle name has come up from time to time. It appears that it is from a cousin of his father.

Last Will and Testament

Sibyl Wood of Chesterville, widow

Franklin County Probate Court

Farmington, Maine

Will Index 487

Notes by Carol M. Wood, Sept. 2006

1.To my son Abel Wood, one dollar. (Yikes!)

2.To my great-grandson Francis L. Wilder, my writing desk.

3.To Llewellen, Persis, Lucinda and Sibyl, children of my granddaughter, the late Mary [Hadassah’s sister ] Eaton, and to Albert and Louisa, children of my grandson the late Silas W. Thompson, [Hadassah Thompson’s brother ] to be divided equally between them, all my wearing apparel remaining at my decease.

4.To Asa C. Thompson [Hadassah Thompson’s brother] my grandson, all my remaining estate and effects after paying the above legacy and all my just debts and charges, including funeral expenses. [I instruct] that I be buried in Norridgewock by my husband and that suitable gravestones are to be placed at my grave.